According to the African Youth Survey 2024, China’s influence in Africa has declined, dropping from 83% in 2020 to 76% in 2024. This shift is attributed to factors such as the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, US-China trade tensions, changes in China’s capital outflows, and shifting political priorities.
Despite this decline, 95% of Kenyans believe China has had a positive impact on the country, citing the affordability of Chinese products, investments, and support for infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto is currently in China for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit, where he is expected to sign agreements that could benefit Kenya’s infrastructure and other state projects.
A new report reveals that most Kenyans remain wary of foreign relations, fearing the exploitation of the country’s natural resources. The African Youth Survey 2024 indicates that 96% of Kenyans believe China exerts the greatest influence in the region, closely followed by the United States at 94%. As foreign powers compete for allies in Africa, China’s economic rise is seen as a challenge to Western interests.
“This notion of a “scramble” for diplomatic influence and natural resources where African states are utilised by global powers needs to take into account the actions of many African countries leveraging these powers against each other in order to achieve their own strategic interests,” the report read in part.
In particular, 65 per cent of African youths voiced their concerns about the impact of foreign companies extracting resources from their country, which doesn’t benefit the locals.
Additionally, there is widespread concern about corruption within foreign companies, with Cameroon (84 per cent), Botswana (81 per cent), Nigeria (80 per cent) and Kenya (78 per cent).
“The exploitation and extraction of natural resources by foreign companies without fair compensation to locals is the primary driver of negative sentiment towards Chinese and American influence in the region, and the second highest factor behind negative perceptions towards Russia’s impact,” the report read in part.
